Sale notice lettering
White, handpainted, deliberately crude lettering in the style once used on shop windows – it’s all over the place
Tim Hope’s deadly ducks
In Tim Hope’s new video for Bingo Players, a London-housing estate gang terrorise their neighbourhood, until they upset a bunch of toe-tapping ducks from the local pond who take matters into their own, er, beaks and give the lads what for…
Click me, swipe me, love me
Musicians and record labels are slowly waking up to the huge potential of interactive websites and apps to help promote music
Less mud, more art
Contemporary music festivals have ditched the tie-dye in favour of strong visual identities and collaborations with a host of great artists and designers
Dorothy’s Song Map
Dorothy’s Song Map litho print (detail below) is made up of streets and destinations from songs, from AC/DC’s Highway To Hell to The Beatles’ Long And Winding Road.
Shooting blanks
What client wouldn’t want to see how its new logo might look on a giant poster site, or screen-printed across a T-shirt or canvas bag? Image templates such as those from LiveSurface and PrestoVisual can help designers to show proposed work in the best possible light – but, as the realism increases and work spreads online, does it matter that it’s now becoming so much harder to work out just what is real and what isn’t?
Circus of Soho
If you’re searching for that special Christmas present for a certain someone (and you have a healthy budget) you might like to check out neon artist Chris Bracey’s Circus of Soho pop-up shop
Popular lies about graphic design
— is the title of a new book by designer Craig Ward exploring the proscriptions and truisms of the creative industry. The following extracts are published here exclusively by Creative Review
Getting seen
Ten years ago, the phones of illustration agents were constantly ringing with requests for their artists’ books to be sent out to art buyers and potential clients. Now that images can easily be browsed onscreen, some agents have abandoned the printed portfolio altogether, while others still see its value. So what is the best way to GET work SEEN?
Antisocial media
The best social media campaigns work well because they play on the new relationships brands have with consumers
Do we need to see the jeans?
In his new column, creative director Paul Belford looks at a brilliantly art directed ad each month. First up: Levi’s
Get knotted
We’ve had T-shirts, tote bags, tea towels and, of course, screenprints; now carpets are the latest medium for the work of graphic designers, artists and illustrators who are seeking a satisfyingly tangible, hand-crafted and collectible vehicle for their work
Why are brands apologising so much right now?
Brands are saying sorry at a more rapid rate than ever. CR’s advertising columnist Ben Kay delves into why sorry is no longer the hardest word and whether this is an effective strategy for winning audiences
How Guinness embraced social
By loosening its approach to advertising, and engaging with its audience directly, the drinks brand has transformed with the times and won a whole new set of fans
Tracing Banksy’s art history remixes
Kelly Grovier’s new book charts the artist’s persistent dialogue with classic and contemporary art
How Lego creates meaningful brand experiences
We speak to Lego’s VP of global brand development Alero Akuya about the brand’s rare ability to straddle the physical and virtual worlds with ease – whether through its immersive new art exhibition in Paris or collaborations with Epic Games and Nike
Matt Willey brings a human touch to Kaos titles
The Pentagram partner has created the titles for the acclaimed new Netflix show, which reimagines the Greek myths in a contemporary setting
A visual history of movie posters
A new book from Reel Art Press collates the first comprehensive history of film posters. We explore why they remain an underappreciated area of cultural design
The Leaders Issue is out now!
The Autumn 2024 issue of Creative Review looks at the brands and individuals who are pushing creativity forward on their way to the top
The Monthly Interview: Rob Lowe, aka Supermundane
Mark Sinclair talks to the artist and designer about his new book, Lost Ordinary Magic, and the importance of recognising the power of simplicity and the everyday wonders that surround us
Unravelling adland’s obsession with 90s nostalgia
We explore how the 90s, an era the UK looks favourably upon for its thriving culture, are continually inspiring a stagnated creative industry
Building the visual world of Fontaines DC
The band’s surreal new album visuals explore a darker, more grotesque side of romance. We speak to the creative team behind the campaign about challenging the visual tropes of rock music
Jessica Walsh ventures into the world of type
As the &Walsh founder launches her agency’s new offshoot Type of Feeling, she discusses why typography’s ability to evoke emotions makes it one of the most powerful tools at a brand’s disposal
Can neuroscience make you a better creative?
Kinda Studios is tapping into the emerging field of neuroaesthetics to help creatives and brands make more impactful work that benefits people’s wellbeing